His organisation’s website includes a map where it is claimed you can find 4,000 participating cafes, but a quick search reveals there are currently none listed in Newcastle and only one on the Central Coast.

He suggests:

Start a conversation with your local cafe, or all your local cafes! Tell them about the issue, how they can be part of the solution and to register as a Responsible Café

Tell your council to join the program and to roll it out to all local cafes

Chat with cafes close to where you work, get your office on board and challenge your colleagues to never use a disposable cup again

Get social and spread the message far and wide

Starting a conversation with your local cafe

For Petra McLoughlin it was as simple as talking to her customers and running with the idea.

And she admits there may be a bit of a halo effect that makes people feel good about coming in to a café that wear a heart on its green sleeve.

“I think so, but it’s not the reason I did it,” she said.

“Personally, I haven’t really promoted it heavily on Facebook; I remember when started, having a row of bring-your-own cups on my coffee machine, and I thought ‘wow, this is actually working’.